The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-23
Mr.. BLAINE AS A TRAVELLER
How He Impressed a Newspaper Man
on the Train from Dijon to Paris.
Miserable Failure of an ATTEMPTED Interview
Watching Mr. Blaine ard Family for
Several Hours on French Railway.

| to stroll into the Hotel Vendome. do you
| know a man by the name OF Blainea" asked the
worthy proprietor, calling me aside and produc
| ng a telegram. received only half hour before
| from Geneva. which ran as follows:
Have rooms ready tomorrow. BLAINE.
gave the excellent Frenchman the desired in.
| formation, and he thanked me profusely, quite
ignorant of the fact that the favor was in every
sense mutual.
| The result of this unexpected discovery was,
| that the next morning the Lyons express de-
posted at the Dion railway station. $40 kill
ometers south Of Paris. Blaine coming on
from Geneva within twelve hours His train
must stop at Dion. six hours distant from Paris.
and, as newspaper man. naturally intended
to utilize those six hours
Everything turned out as 1 had hoped-at
least up to certain point. AZ HOT A. Nj. the
Geneva express drew up at Dion. with Mr. and
Mrs. Blaine and their two daughters in one of
the compartments. At Ills A. NJ. the same
train left DIXON with the occupants of said COM
partment increased by one person. j. g., myself.
And here let emphasize the fact that did
not enter the Blaine carriage under false colors
but stated plainly at the beginning tina. had
como down from Paris with the express purpose
of "having conversation"
An amusing incident happened at the very
start. 1 announced myself to the distinguished
Senator while he was standing on the platform,
and the sudden appearance of an interviewer in
such an out-of-the-way place rather bewildered
him. He did not Immediately take in the situa-
ton, and, while puzZling over this unusual phe-
nomenon, the train began to move off. There
upon his two daugh ters hogan screaming at their
father to hurry. and Mrs. Blaine, in the back
ground, exclaimed excitedly: ''Oh, James,
James why don't you get in2"
AS the cars finally moved slowly out of the
Dion depot, / looked about me and noticed that
compartment held seven persons. to wit: the
Blaines, two Frenchmen and myself-Mrs.
Blaine and Miss Hattie sitting next to me. and
opposite them. Miss Margaret Blaine and her
father
And now that we had started. 1 quickly IN
formed the Senator more fully of the object that
had in view. whereupon ne braced up and said
in a very decided manner:
mo. sir; l cannot consent to be interviewed
by anyone any subject This is my decision
first. last and always. | have newspaper friends
over here who have known for twenty years.
but tell them exactly what / now tell you. I
am travelling in Europe simply private citi-
zen, and have nothing to say to the public abso
iu.elv nothing. Speak about the threatened
war between Germany and Francea How can IL
/ propose spending the next few weeks in Paris,
and shall then go on to Berlin. Now, | ask you
how 1t is possible for me to express any opinion
on such subject which would be satisfactory
to both countries!
was SO when | reached London, and have been
ever since OF course, all possible changes have
been rung on my failing physical strength and
the farce will be continued Whenever I reach
a new city some oficious correspondent flashes
the wires that Blaine is looking worse than
ever The gentlemen of the press insist that
went to Homburg for medical treatment. but
Europe would be in serious way if going to
Homburg meant going to a hospital. No. the
thing is quite absurd. have been asked again
and again to deny these rumOrs, but why should
I? The diagnosis of my various and numerous
maladies'-wlth grim sme-''are made. for
the most part. by persons who have never even
seen my face Yes added my compaguon de
voyage, sarcastcally, you quite at liberty
to cable over night to the United States that
tho Hon. James 6. Blaine has arrived in Paris
in his usual hageard and misera BILE condition"
Having said this much, the whiIom Senator
settled back in his corner and devoted himself
to the London Daily Telegraph, while Mrs
Blaine looked out of the window, and the young
ladies buried themselves in paper-covered nov
els. There was an atmosphere of whitening dis
dain IN the manner of the entire party which
panied me deeply. However. was in no special
hurry-we were still four FIVE hours from
Paris-so l started mp a conversation with the
Frenchmau at my side, rejecting that the great
man opposite, with all his brillancv, unable
to comprehend word of what We were say ing.
informed my Gallo friend. with great e usto,
that the gentleman over in the corner, who wore
a pepper and salt suit. and little black felt
hat with the band torn off, was possible future
President of the United States and. as dilated
the political prowess of our neighbor. could
see that Frenchman's eyes fairly bullying out in
admiration at this striking illustration OF RE-
publican simplicity" sA
When stopped talking with my French COM
panion. the silence was unbroken save by the
rush Of tho express My presence seemed to
have cast gloom over the Blaine party.
therefore proceeded to study the ladies' toilets
ndustriously, and decided that they all
dressed in Indifferent taste. Mrs. Blaine a
large strong-featured lady. wears her gray hair
about in rings Her bonnet was mi abe of brown
plush, with huge strings under the chin. and
she was entirely enveloped in a capacious black
silk mantle. Miss Margaret. who seems
rather unsatisfactory imitation of her father.
wore a grey travelling dress. very plain black
velvet hat and pair of shabby brown gloves.
Miss Hattie, whose features are an improve
ment on her sisters. was dressed in navy blue.
and appeared to be an inveterate novel reader.
While 1 was thus busily engaged in studying
the ladies of his party, Blaine himself was medi-
tating. an operation which he performs in q most
in teresting manner. He crosses his legs, alter
nately nursing foot with one hand and drum
ming the window with the other. Meantime.
his lower jaw drops gradually, and. now and
then. as far-away look comes into his eyes, he
extends his tongue, with the tip curved slightly
upward, and allows 1t to vibrate slowly from side
to side along the lower edge of his siivery mus
tache I am able to describe this process in de-
tail. because / observed it attentively for good
half hour, having nothing better to do.
4. AS result of this brown study the imam
from Maine presently decided to send off a dis
patch, and with this end in view, left the train
at small station and entered the telegraph
Office. Several minutes passed and he did not
return. The guards slammed the doors, calling
out the inevitable EN- voiture messieurs. en-
voiture:" but the 'Plumed Knight received this
exhortation with complacency and remained at
the telegraph window.
'Ohl dear" exclaimed Miss Margaret, stand
ing in the door OF the raiwaw carriage. why
does papa do things like ths2 He has kept the
train waiting twice to-day already"
well. l am sure he will be left this time"
sighed Mrs. Blaine. anxiously; "do tell the
guard, Margaret. to hold the train until he
comes"
At this critical moment was glad to be- Of
some slight service in rescuing the missing
statesman, who, it he did not lose his train
most certainly did lose his temper. And the
second part of my interview ran as follows:
'Miss the train? Well, don't if I do
Abominable system. I couldn't send nv tele-
gram after ali. Keep everyone waiting2 I
know l Gid, and I'll do it again if feel like it
No: shant get out again. Itsauseless trying to
send the message at all. You know it must be
written in English. for he could not understand
a word of French"
inwardlv eueried to who this ''he" could
be, and again offered my assistance. l was quite
willing to send that dispatch. mo, thanks
was the laconic answer; and them after pause